One of the most iconic football boots of all time has returned in a street-ready form.
Introduced to the world in 1994, the Adidas Predator line has maintained its long-standing legacy for over 30 years now. Originally designed to maximize the friction between the boot and the ball when struck, the Predator evolved throughout its several iterations.
Zinedine Zidane dribbling by Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso in his PE colorway of the Predator Absolute
The Predator Absolute, the 8th iteration of the boot, was released in 2006 and was one of the marquee boots of the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Known for dressing the likes of David Beckham, the Absolute is most likely remembered for being the gold pair Zidane wore throughout that tournament.
Now, almost 20 years since debuting, the Predator Absolute is returning in a new form. Adidas has today released the Predator Sala Shoe. The shoe is made of a leather upper, as expected, and a matching leather sock-liner that gives the sneaker a classier look.
According to Adidas, the Predator Sala is a “reimagined take on the iconic Predator, these adidas shoes nod to their soccer DNA with a premium leather upper that features subtle shine and a fold-over tongue. The rubber outsole keeps you stable on any surface, while a leather lining adds an extra layer of comfort. Fluid lines and details in contrast colors create a dynamic aesthetic.”
The sneaker is the latest classic Adidas boot to see a reintroduction. Earlier this year, Kith released a wide range of Adidas sneakers- including a familiar Predator 2002 IC. The sneaker-world currently finds itself closely connected with the world of football. With the 2026 World Cup only a year out, it feels fair to expect colorwars of the Predator Sala, as well as more iconic Adidas boots, to find their way out of the vault soon.
You can grab the Predator Sala via Adidas now in Beige/ Team Victory Red colorway or in a Shadow Navy colorway.